Energy measurement technologies for the utility industry - Joint venture with the FATO Group in Shanghai

ZENNER is migrating into a full-service energy metering provider for the utility industry. In combination with existing metering and system technologies for water and heating systems, Zenner will now offer gas meters as well. The partner in this new business offering will be the FATO Group in Shanghai, one of China's leading energy measurement technology producers. ZENNER has formed a joint venture with the FATO group that is specialising in gas meters - FATO Metering Technology Ltd. ZENNER FATO Metering Technology Ltd. will produce gas meters for the global market. The new partnership will capitalize on the international know-how and sales network of the ZENNER group. "We want to provide our customers with the very best energy measurement technologies in as many markets as possible. FATO is the right partner for us to compete in the gas metering market. Our new partner offers proven technical expertise, is known for the quality of the products it manufactures and is currently expanding very rapidly," states ZENNER's managing director Alexander Lehmann.

The new business combination, ZENNER FATO group, will market mechanical gas meters with aluminium and steel housings as well as Smart Meters for residential and commercial use. The Smart Meter product range will incorporate intelligent gas meters with prepaid card recognition systems, which are common in many countries. The product range will also combine gas meters and systems for wireless automatic meter reading (AMR). The corporate offices for the new ZENNER FATO group will be located in Shanghai. An estimated one million gas meters will be produced during the first year of production. There is currently an additional manufacturing facility in the works in Handan in the Heibei province that will allow the newly formed partnership to double its capacity. The new facility will be established in partnership with the Chinese gas supplier China Gas Holdings Ltd. "Initially we will target our gas meter products in Asia, North and South America, and Europe. ZENNER is already well established in over twenty different worldwide locations on several continents. We are familiar with the nuances of the respective energy markets and required product certifications," explains Alexander Lehmann. ZENNER currently operates two manufacturing facilities in China located in Fuzhou and Shanghai. The existing ZENNER facilities in China will strengthen the overall partnership with FATO.

ZENNER International GmbH & Co. KG, with headquarters in Saarbrücken, develops, produces and sells measurement technology for the global market. The product line includes apartment, household and bulk water meters and modern system technology such as remote-controlled and M-Bus systems. Zenner customers primarily include power suppliers and public utilities, but also industrial companies, wholesalers and measurement service providers. ZENNER has production facilities in Europe, Asia and the USA and is globally present with 20 local sites. Founded in 1903, the company has been a member of the family-managed corporate group Minol-ZENNER since 2005. Around 1200 employees work for ZENNER worldwide. More information: http://www.zenner.com.